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The SPS Guide to PHYSICS & Related Fields 2020-2021 Edition
2020-2021 Edition
Table of Contents
Introduction 2
The Society of Physics Students 3
Why Should I Study Physics? 4
Ways to Study Physics at Harvard 6
Physics Course Strategies 10
Course Descriptions and Recommendations 13
Freshman Seminars 14
Physics Department Courses 15
Mathematics Department Courses 27
Astronomy Department Courses 33
Other Cool Stuff 34
Research at Harvard 40
Contacts 46
The Back Page 48
1Introduction
The Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students – SPS for short – has
produced this booklet for students who are considering concentrating in
physics or a related field. Even if you’re not planning to become a physics
concentrator, we hope you’ll find this booklet helpful.
It can be hard to decide on a field to concentrate in. It’s also hard to choose
which courses to take, whether they’re in the physics department or outside of
it. We can’t help you with choosing an Expository Writing class, but we hope
our experience as physics concentrators at Harvard will be useful to you. You
can use this guide during shopping period, but you might want to keep it in a
desk drawer for future reference — it might come in handy over the next few
shopping periods. Take the guide out for a walk once in a while, it likes
exercise too.
Of course, when you’re choosing your concentration and classes, it’s a good
idea to get as much information as possible. You can obtain advice from the
informational meetings held in the Science Center a few days before classes
begin, from individual members of the Physics Department Faculty, from the
Head Tutors, and from upper-class students by emailing the SPS list. You can
find online resources at www.physics.harvard.edu. In fact, we very strongly
encourage you to get advice from as many sources as you can. (Of course, since
no one reads the Introduction, we’ll stress this later on too.)
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the
information in this booklet. Nevertheless, it may contain inadvertent errors
and omissions, so you should be sure to consult the course information in the
my.harvard portal and the student handbook subsection Fields of
Concentration before making any final decisions.
2The Society of Physics Students
Our name says it all. The Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students (SPS)
works to promote the interests of physics students at Harvard and Radcliffe.
SPS organizes many different kinds of activities throughout the year:
academic, career-related, and just-for-fun events. To learn about research
going on in the various sub-fields of physics and related areas, be sure to
attend the Monday lunches at noon with the visiting colloquium speakers (eat
nice food, learn a lot) as well as the Wednesday evening talks with Harvard
professors as part of Physics 95 (all are welcome; ice cream served). We also
host a number of talks about grad schools and careers for those trained in the
physical sciences. Keep your eyes out for events such as movie nights, and
liquid nitrogen fun. Don’t miss our annual nitrogen-frozen pumpkin drop on
Halloween. Fanciful ideas such as races across non-Newtonian cornstarch
have been proposed.
The SPS functions as a liaison between the community of physics students and
the Physics Department. Periodically, the officers of SPS meet with the chair
and undergrad tutors of the department to discuss issues of concern to physics
students. We hope all physics students will bring ideas to this process.
The physics undergraduate study serves as a great place to relax, meet up with
other physics students, and get to know Undergraduate Coordinator (a.k.a.
“undergrad mom”) Carol Davis, whose office is across the hall. Look out for
sweet snacks and free food!
Another important function of the SPS is informing physics students of events
that may be of interest to them. SPS has produced this booklet in an effort to
ensure that new students are fully informed about the options available to
them. There is also an email list, sps-list@hcs (for major SPS and department
announcements) as well as a more informal sps-open@hcs (for interesting
events, opportunities, class advice, questions from students, and links). If you
want to subscribe to the email list, you can visit our website,
www.hcs.harvard.edu/~physics. Also, check out our Facebook group
(www.facebook.com/groups/168759966574319)!
3Why Should I Study Physics?
Good question. Well, if you ask any physicist this question, they will probably
tell you without hesitation: “It’s fun!” Of course, not all of us are destined to
become physics faculty. But even if you’re not sure if you want to be a physics
pro – in fact, even if you’re not sure you want to be a physics concentrator –
we think you should at least take a few physics classes. Give us the chance to
convince you.
If you want to go into any science, knowledge of physics is a valuable tool to
have. Not to toot our own horn too much, but physics is the basis for all
phenomena in the understandable universe. Having knowledge of the
principles behind all the other sciences leads to a deeper understanding and is
a way to avoid silly errors. Do you want to be the biologist or inventor whose
ideas violate the conservation of energy? Probably not. A firm grounding in
physics can only help your work in other fields.
Also, physics is really fun.
Even if you’re not sure if you want to go into research at all, knowledge of
physics can help you out. As has become more and more clear, the job market
of the new millennium is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Sociologist
Manuel Castells calls it an Information Age, where the thriving center of the
economy is based not only on technology but on technology for creating even
more technology. Desirable jobs – the kind that pay off Harvard tuition bills –
more and more demand rock-solid analytical skills and the ability to
understand complex, difficult problems. A physics education is all about that.
A physics education is also fun.
To put it a little bit more concretely, more and more physics students are
taking their undergraduate science degrees into the Big Three areas of
professional school: medicine, law, and business. Doctors now routinely
perform procedures such as “positron emission tomography” and “magnetic
resonance imaging.” The study and development of artificial joints and organs
demand cutting edge materials and biophysics knowledge. As debates over
cloning and movie pirating have shown us, new sciences and technologies
have also led to all sorts of legal and social quandaries. Scientifically educated
lawyers who can intelligently wade through these morasses are becoming a
valuable commodity. And as business and industry become more ever more
technical, the executive who can actually understand their company’s function
or product is becoming increasingly valuable. If you’re the Wall Street type,
hedge funds and investment banks are always looking for people with the
analytical and mathematical skills to do whatever it is they do down there. And
they are willing to pay them lots and lots and lots of money.
The increasingly important role of technology in our everyday lives has also
made clear the need for quality science education in our schools, from
4elementary to high school. A teacher with a solid science background is a
lamentably rare creature, but they are also an immensely valuable resource to
a school and to society at large. If you have some physics knowledge under
your belt, schools will love you.
Also, physics is really fun.
Basically, we’ve been saying the same thing in a bunch of ways: physics
demands clear logical thinking and strong math skills. Maybe you’re not the
kind of person who eats Gaussian integrals for breakfast, but taking even a few
physics classes will help you hone your analytical thinking and problem
solving. As a bonus, you’ll learn all about the universe that we live in, which it
turns out is a lot wackier than it seems at first glance. If you want to learn
more about the clever ways physics applies to everyday life, you might think
about taking Physics 125. And if you want to know all about the neat stuff
going on in the forefront of physics, check out the Physics Department
Colloquia (Monday afternoons), or the Wednesday evening lecture series (in
conjunction with Physics 95). And pester your professors!
In conclusion, you should study physics. It’s fun!
5Ways to Study Physics at Harvard
Harvard is a very exciting place, but it’s a bit confusing for the first few weeks.
So much happens before you’ve really figured out where you are! You’ve
probably come with a lot of interests, but you may not be sure how to pursue
them here. The Society of Physics Students thought we could help you out a
little bit as you get acclimated, by giving you some advice on what you can do
with your interest in the physical sciences.
The first thing to realize is that you have many options. Some choices must be
made by November of your sophomore year, when you select a concentration.
You could concentrate in physics. You may wish to joint concentrate. You may
have the option of advanced standing (in which case these decisions may be
upon you even earlier). Or you might take physics classes for a secondary field
or as electives, with no thought of concentrating in physics at all. New and
different plans of study are constantly being invented, so you should also feel
free to dream up just about anything and present it to Howard Georgi (the
Head Tutor) or David Morin (the Co-Head Tutor). Chances are they’ve heard
worse!
(And after all this, you may very likely change your mind about these
decisions. No problem—nothing is written in stone!)
If you are considering concentrating in physics (or some variation on that
theme), this section describes the myriad options for concentration. More
details can be found in the Fields of Concentration section of the Student
Handbook.
Or, you may wish to jump directly to the course descriptions.
The Physics Concentration
Let’s start with the most straightforward case. You want to concentrate in
physics. (Yay!) For non-honors, you must take twelve semester courses in
physics or related fields. These twelve courses normally include the
introductory sequence (through a semester of quantum mechanics) and math
through multivariable calculus and linear algebra. After that, almost
everything you can think of counts either as a physics course or as a related
course. So you can concentrate in physics without actually taking that many
physics courses. However, if you’re sitting here figuring out how few you can
get away with, you might be happier in another department.
We’re serious when we say twelve semester courses in physics or related
fields. These related fields’ courses might include offerings of the Chemistry,
Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Astronomy,
Engineering, Statistics, and other departments. Check them out!
6If you’re looking for a well-rounded physics education, the honors course
requirements serve as a good guideline. (Most people do honors, especially
since there’s no thesis, tutorial, or general exam requirement; most
departments require at least a thesis.) For an honors degree, thirteen to
fifteen courses are required, including the introductory sequence, two math
courses beyond multivariable and linear algebra, and the advanced laboratory
class (Physics 191r). Quantum beyond the first semester and
thermodynamics/statistical mechanics courses are highly recommended,
especially for those considering graduate work. If you already know single-
variable calculus, you may be able to place into a higher math course and
reduce the number of courses required for honors to as few as thirteen.
Joint Concentrations
So now that you’re taking 50 million classes, what about combining a physics
concentration with something else? If you have a very strong interest in
another area, you may want to consider a joint concentration (Harvard speak
for a double major). Joint concentrations often require the completion of
honors requirements in both departments. While this sounds like a
gargantuan task, it’s usually feasible.
Some fields combine quite naturally with physics. For example, “physics and
math” works out to a mere three semesters of math beyond multivariable
calculus and linear algebra (including one analysis, one abstract algebra, and
one geometry course) among your thirteen courses for the Honors Physics
degree. “Physics and Astrophysics” is also easy; just substitute the
astrophysics laboratory course for the lab course offered by the Physics
Department, and take five semesters of astronomy (16, 17, 98, and two others
that count as related courses in Physics).
If that’s all you do, you may ask why you should bother to declare a joint
concentration. Perhaps most simply, it lets potential employers/graduate
schools/significant others know what your real interests are. A joint
concentration will also give you greater access to both departments.
Some fields, on the other hand, do not combine with physics quite so naturally.
For a joint concentration like Physics and Classics, you’ll really have to talk
with the Head Tutor of each department. “Negotiate” might be the more
appropriate term, but do not despair — with a bit of persistence all things are
possible. And, such joint concentrations have probably been done before! (You
will probably soon learn the story of one dedicated concentrator in Physics
and Music and the physics-related musical he wrote. Another student who
graduated in 2009 did a special concentration combining physics and theater;
her thesis was a play on quantum mechanics!)
Also, a joint concentration in physics is easier than one in many other areas. If
both departments require a thesis for an honors degree, then a joint
concentrator must write a thesis combining the two fields. Because physics
7does not require a thesis for honors, only the thesis requirements of the other
department apply.
There are a few subtleties to joint concentrations. While the “physics and
math” joint concentration does not require a thesis, the “math and physics”
concentration does. “Chemistry and Physics” is also a bit different — it is a
single concentration blending the two fields, technically not a joint
concentration. No, it doesn’t make much sense, so read the fine print carefully!
Secondary Field
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences offers “Secondary Fields” at Harvard College,
which may be thought of as the equivalent to what are called “minors” at other
institutions. Amongst the departments offering secondary fields is the Physics
Department. Students who decide not to study Physics as their primary
concentration and have difficulty “negotiating” a joint concentration with
another department should certainly consider this as an option!
The secondary field in Physics requires 4 courses. Students must take one
course in electricity and magnetism (usually Physics 15b or 153), one course
in wave phenomena and/optics (normally 15c), and one course in quantum
mechanics (normally 143a). The final course should simply be a physics
course at the 100 level or higher. Of course, students are welcome to take
courses of higher level that cover the specified material. Note that although
mechanics (normally 15a or 16) is not required for a secondary field, it is a
prerequisite for almost all other physics courses and is strongly
recommended.
More information on the details and procedures of this option can be found in
the Handbook for Students online. Interested students should, as always,
consult Dr. Morin or Prof. Georgi!
Other Options for Physics Concentrations
The Undergraduate Teaching and Education Program (UTEP) option is great if
you have an interest in education; you will receive teaching certification along
with your bachelor’s degree. The education requirements are quite significant,
though, so for this concentration you’ll want to plan ahead. You’ll need some
time for the student teaching senior year! (That may seem far away now, but
it’ll arrive before you know it.)
Biophysics is great if you have interests in biological questions from a physical
standpoint. As a very research-oriented option, coursework is flexible enough
for concentrators to continue with classes in the physical sciences, many of
which have departmental courses at the intersection with biology. Work in a
professor’s lab is required instead of the standard physics laboratory course.
For more information on working with professors, please see the “Research At
Harvard” section.
8For the experimentally-oriented among you, there is also an Applied Physics
option. It combines hands-on physics, the advanced laboratory 191r, and
Engineering Sciences classes.
Not Concentrating at All
Maybe you’re interested in physics but you’d rather spend most of your time
doing something else. Great! You can still take a lot of physics classes. As a first
year, there are a few different options of introductory sequences that you can
look into: 12a and 12b; and 15a (or 16 or 19), 15b, and 15c. For the life
sciences, or if you are interested in medical school, be sure to look into the
Physical Sciences 1, 2 and 3. You will typically need to have these classes
under your belt to take a higher-level course, but all the requirements are
negotiable – just talk to Prof. Georgi or Dr. Morin. In particular, we often see
math, chemistry, or even computer science concentrators taking quantum
mechanics (143a). Certain other classes are not as mathematical as most and
are also worth thinking about. More advanced undergraduates in the sciences
should be well-qualified to take many 100-level physics classes.
Master’s Degree
Beyond the different concentration tracks, you may also have the option of
getting a master's degree concurrently with your A.B. in four years. Check the
Harvard College website for eligibility requirements, as the rules have recently
changed. An extremely challenging courseload is necessary to satisfy the
requirements, so very few students pursue this option.
When pursuing the A.M., you continue to live as an undergraduate for four
years and can fulfill the requirements with classes taken at any point during
your college career. The A.M. requirements typically consist of eight classes,
with at least six being grad classes and at least four being physics. Chem/Phys
concentrators may also want to consider the A.M. in Chemistry. Talk to upper-
class students and Dr. Morin or Prof. Georgi for more information.
9Physics Course Strategies
We can't be sure that this advice will be useful to everyone, but if you learn the
same way most of us do, these hints may help your physics career run more
smoothly. Here are some general strategies that many of us wish we had
learned sooner.
• Talk to other students!
Upper-class students are the most valuable source of information about
anything at Harvard. They can tell you about courses, professors, research
opportunities, summer programs, ways around bureaucratic obstacles, where
the party’s at — in short, how to get the most out of your Harvard
experience. If the people you talk to don't know the answer to your question,
chances are they know someone else who does.
Self-promotion time: coming to SPS events is a great way to meet older physics
concentrators (and people who like physics, or people who like people who
like physics). The first few SPS events focus heavily on course advising and
getting to know older physics concentrators. You should also feel free to
contact the SPS officers at any time; see the back cover for contact information.
There is of course plenty of free advice (and addictive food) to be had at SPS
events, but you should also take advantage of the other opportunities/people
available to you.
• Look into classes with your omnipotent friend Q
If you go to the COOP a few days before classes, you should have a chance to
look at the text for each class. Look at the first chapter. How do you feel? Now
open the book to the middle. Excited? Great! Also, for both physics and non-
physics courses, consult the Q-Guide to see how students have rated the course
in the past. Note, however, that the professor for the course may have
changed; the Q-Guide will point you to another course they have taught if
possible. Take this information into account! The professor makes the
course!!! Check the online Q-Guide for ratings from previous years:
www.fas.harvard.edu/~evals.
• Take advantage of shopping period
The surest way to assess a course and its professor is to attend the lectures
during shopping period. Be sure to grab a syllabus. This is your chance to
check out all the courses you're considering — and you should look at more
courses than you plan to take. Even if you think you already know what you're
taking, shop around. You may discover a wonderful class you never even
knew about, or you can get a glimpse of courses you may take in the future.
Science classes generally dive right into material, so be prepared to take notes
and have a way to copy them once you finalize your course selections. Don’t
take a class you don’t enjoy in the first few lectures. Studies have shown that
10initial impressions of Harvard classes are almost always correct.
• Get the best section leader
In most physics courses you won't be required to attend section, but we feel
that a good section can greatly enhance your experience. If you are
dissatisfied with your assigned section, don't just stay home; find the section
most worthwhile for you. If you're required to attend a particular section with
which you are unhappy, keep in mind that a “schedule conflict” could make a
section change necessary.
Just because a section is optional doesn't mean it's useless — attending section
helps reinforce the material you're learning, demonstrates how to work
college-level problems, and gives you an opportunity to ask questions about
points that confuse you. Plus, a TF who sees you regularly in section may be
friendlier when you come to ask her for help on your problem set. It’s also
good to get to know grad students: they can be very cool people, and they will
also expose you to the kind of life that you might live for the next 5-10 years,
should you continue in physics. They can also introduce you to their own
research and their professors and tell you where to find free food.
• Go to your professors' office hours!
Remember when you were thinking about going to Harvard and everyone
warned you that you would never have any contact with professors? This is
your big chance to prove them wrong! You can use professors' office hours to
get help with difficult course material, find out about their research, or
discover that they have lives outside physics. You will have to go out of your
way to seriously interact with most professors, but most will be delighted to
see you at their office hours — don't be intimidated! Several lonely professors
have been overheard begging students to visit their office hours.
• Use the Undergraduate Physics Study and the Physics Reading Room
The Undergraduate Physics Study (Jefferson 251) is an area specifically
reserved for undergraduates to work, relax, and chat with friends. The study
is right next to the offices of Dr. Morin, the Co-Head Tutor, and Carol Davis, the
Undergraduate Coordinator. Look for SPS events, TF office hours, and free
food here!
Located on the fourth floor of Jefferson Laboratory, the Physics Reading Room
(formerly Physics Research Library) is one of the most pleasant places to work
or relax on campus. The library is open to all Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM, but
anyone with keycard access to Jefferson (including all physics concentrators)
has 24-hour access. This space is open to the entire physics community,
whether you want to do research, work on a problem set, or read the
newspaper. And don’t forget the cookies every Monday afternoon before the
departmental colloquia – they can be found here.
11• Work with other people on problem sets!
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of this. On a practical level, a
study group will make your life easier on problem set night and help you
understand the material more fully. More importantly, you’ll meet and get to
know your fellow concentrators. If you’re taking a class aimed at physics
concentrators, check out the Eliot dining hall on Wednesday nights – it is
where many students, especially those in the intro classes, do their
problem sets, in a celebrated weekly tradition known as Physics Night
(the same goes for Math Night on Monday nights). There are always
substantial supplies of baked goods available to fuel this endeavor. Eliot is
usually chock-full of physics concentrators until the wee hours of the
morning. Nights at Eliot usually end up being one of the best parts of being a
physics concentrator at Harvard.
If you’re going to work outside Eliot, assembling a study group might take
some persistence. But don't be shy about asking people to work with you. If
you can’t find a study group, just email sps-open. Also try Facebooking people
in your classes (no it’s not sketchy, and yes, it really works), or come to SPS
meetings to meet other people in your classes.
We feel obligated to warn you: don't rely on your study group as a crutch —
copying answers for problem sets won't help on the exam. And it is technically
academic dishonesty and could get you in trouble. We hope that you’ll find that
your fellow students are more valuable as teachers than as sources of answers.
• Check out previous final exams.
Final exams for many courses are available at Gordon McKay Library of
Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Harvard University Archives. Recent
exams are often posted on course webpages. Studying problems from old
exams is a great way to prepare for your own final. Beware, however, if the
professor for the class has changed, because the final may be entirely different.
12Course Descriptions and Recommendations
We are only providing brief course descriptions here since you can look up
more detailed descriptions in the my.harvard portal. However, we’ve also
offered some opinions that you won’t find in the official descriptions. Just
remember that these are our opinions; yours may differ. Also, the
prerequisites listed in the course guide are not always up-to-date. Check with
the professor if you are considering not following them, however. The
prerequisites listed below are also our opinions.
Due to editorial constraints (i.e. the Physics Department gives us money) we
are unable to rate professors as well as courses. You should be aware,
however, that in many cases the satisfaction one gains from a class has
more to do with the professor who is teaching it than the course material
itself. The Q-Guide is an excellent resource for professor ratings. If you wish to
find professor ratings from previous years, back issues of the Q-Guide can be
found at www.fas.harvard.edu/~evals.
Students who have taken the course provide an even better source of
information. (Always feel free to badger your SPS buddy or the SPS officers
about such things; we’ve certainly done our share of asking for info!) We can’t
emphasize this strongly enough:
Ask around about professors and courses!!
Also, the professors themselves are good source of information. You might
want to talk to them, to watch them in action during shopping period, or both.
We suggest that if you are unsure of which course is right for you, talk with the
professor giving the course.
If you think you may be familiar with the material in a course, check out the
past course webpages and final exams. Take a look at these to get an idea of
the level of the course. Even better, find out when this year’s professor last
gave the course, and check the final exams from that year, available at Gordon
McKay Library of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Below we have included all undergraduate courses offered by the Physics
Department, and many courses in the related fields. Courses in brackets are
not offered this year.
NOTE: Courses demarcated with [brackets] will not be offered this year.
Those marked by an asterisk (*) are courses you should especially
consider during your first year.
The rest you might just want to mull over for a while. (Or, as Nobel Laureate
Leon Lederman said: “Put your nose to the glass and look at all the candy!”)
13Freshman Seminars
Freshman seminars are very different from most other courses you will take in
your first year. In these courses, a small group of students works closely with a
professor in the investigation of a field—there is a great deal of informal
interaction in addition to standard classroom fare.
A freshman seminar can supplement the introductory sequence (see below) if
you think you may concentrate in physics; it can also be a great way of
dabbling in physics if you’re sure you won’t concentrate in it. The only good
reason not to take a seminar is time. These courses are electives. If it’s
important to you to get started on the introductory sequences in physics,
math, and chemistry all at once, then you might not have time for a freshman
seminar. Still, don’t discount the option without some thought; a freshman
seminar (inside or outside your field) can be one of your best academic
experiences at Harvard.
We heartily recommend considering a freshman seminar in any area that
piques your interest; here we list those related to physics. Also consider taking
a freshman seminar not in physics – it’s a great way to expand your
interests. Note that there are many seminars not listed here related to the
other sciences as well.
* Freshman Seminar 21G (Loeb): First Stars and Life in the Cosmos (Spring)
* Freshman Seminar 21V (Strominger): Black Holes, String Theory, and the
Fundamental Laws of Nature (Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 22I (Bloxham): The Science of Sailing (Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 23C (Woodin): Exploring the Infinite (Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 23P (Vafa): Physics, Math and Puzzles (Fall)
This seminar is intensely rewarding for students interested in physics,
mathematics, and the interface between the two. Simple yet profound results
in physics are explored through the unique medium of puzzle-solving.
Consider this puzzle: There are four cities at the corners of a square. You have
to build roads so that you can drive from any city to any another in some way.
How do you do it using the minimum length of road? The answer has to do
with why particles have mass. The ideas explored in this class, including
symmetries and duality relations, will come up over and over in future physics
classes. The light workload of an interesting puzzle to think about each week
makes the class an ideal addition for a busy schedule.
* Freshman Seminar 23R (Alcock): Asteroids and Comets (Spring)
* Freshman Seminar 23Y (Doyle): All Physics in 13 Days (Fall)
14* Freshman Seminar 26J (Randall): The Universe’s Hidden Dimensions
(Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 51C (Meade): Science in the Age of Artificial
Intelligence (Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 51H (Zipser): Models of the World: Explaining the Past
and Predicting the Future (Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 51T (Dvorkin): The Universe: Its Origin, Evolution, and
Major Puzzles (Spring)
* Freshman Seminar 51U (Georgi): Insurrection in a Little Kingdom—The
Real Story of the Standard Model of Particle Physics (Spring)
* Freshman Seminar 51V (Kim): Physics of Measurements: Experimental
Science (Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 51X (Samuel): Changing Perspectives: the Science of
Optics in the Visual Arts (Spring)
* Freshman Seminar 51Z (Finkbeiner): The Path to a Low-Carbon Future
(Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 52D (Vishwanath): Quantum Entanglement and the
Second Quantum Revolution (Fall)
* Freshman Seminar 52E (Park): Science and Technology Primer for Future
Leaders (Spring)
* Freshman Seminar 52H (Franklin): The Interaction of Light with the
World (Spring)
Seminars require an application and, occasionally, an interview, but are well
worth the effort. More information and a complete listing of seminars are
available here: https://freshmanseminars.college.harvard.edu/seminars.
15Physics Department Courses
Introductory Courses
Physical Science Courses:
* Physical Sciences 1, 2, 3: an introduction to the physical sciences for
biological applications (1,3 Spring; 2 Fall)
These are the introductory courses to physics as well as physical chemistry
with an emphasis on biological applications. They are intended especially for
pre-med students, but are recommended for any students who are interested
in the physical sciences but do not have much background (though AP Chem is
helpful). Among other things, Physical Sciences 1 (PS1) covers introductory
general and physical chemistry, while PS2 and PS3 cover mechanics and
electromagnetism, respectively. Note that PS2 and PS3 are not accepted for
credit towards a physics concentration, though they are accepted for other
concentrations, such as chemistry. Students should consult the department for
more information.
* Physical Sciences 10: Chemistry: A Microscopic Perspective on Molecules,
Materials, and Life (Fall)
* Physical Sciences 11: Foundations and Frontiers of Modern Chemistry: A
Molecular and Global Perspective (Spring)
These courses, besides your typical introductory general chemistry material,
intend to introduce fields and applications that you might not get to outside of
more advanced physics and chemistry classes. PS 10, for instance, goes over
the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, while PS
11 looks at topics such as thermodynamics and quantum chemistry
(overlapping topics with PS 1 as well). Both emphasize real-world
applications, such as medical imaging, global warming, and electric cars. These
courses can also be taken independently of each other. Pre-med general
chemistry requirements can be fulfilled with any two courses from Life and
Physical Sciences A, Life Sciences 1a, PS 1, PS 10, and PS 11. Students should
consult the department for more information.
* Physical Sciences 12a,b: Mechanics (Spring) and Electromagnetism and
Statistical Physics (Fall) from an Analytic, Numerical, and Experimental
Perspective
These courses comprise a standard college-level one-year introduction to
physics, with emphasis on engineering applications and experimental data
analysis. They satisfy medical school requirements and are highly
recommended for a pre-med concentrating in an area other than physics but
looking for a more rigorous treatment than PS2 and PS3. PS 12a,b is accepted
for credit in many concentrations, including chemistry and engineering. Math
1621a is listed as a corequisite; however, if you are comfortable with your
calculus skills it may not be necessary. If you wish to count PS 12a,b toward
the Physics or Chem/Phys concentrations, be sure to consult the department
to develop a coherent plan of study.
* Applied Physics 50a,b: Physics as a Foundation for Science and Engineering
These courses form a unique year-long project-based introduction to physics.
They are relatively new, and promise to provide the equivalent of a standard
introductory physics course, but with a heavy emphasis on engineering-
inspired group projects. Math at the level of Math 1b concurrently is required,
though it’s recommended to take Math or Applied Math 21a concurrently;
math content will be coordinated with AM 21a. Consult the department for
more information.
Note: Where Math 21a is listed as a pre/corequisite, Applied Math 21a or
Math 23b, 25a, or 55a will also satisfy the requirement. Similarly, Applied
Math 21b or Math 23a, 25b, or 55b can substitute for 21b.
Physics Courses:
* Physics 15a: Introductory Mechanics and Relativity (Fall and Spring)
* Physics 16: Mechanics and Special Relativity (Fall)
[* Physics 19 (formerly Phys 101): Introduction to Theoretical Physics]
Ah, the great first-year dilemma. Physics 15a, 16, and 19 are your choices for
your first physics class as a physics concentrator – you can take any one of the
three; they all feed into the same sequence (15a/16/19, 15b, 15c,
143a). Basically, 15a and 19 are hard, while 16 is very hard. They all go
beyond the high school AP Physics level and introduce all sorts of interesting
topics. Many freshmen are not sure whether they will be able to handle 16.
Fortunately, the Department makes it easy to switch between courses at the
beginning of the semester once you get a feel for them. You probably want to
take a look at 16, but don’t feel obligated to take it. Depending on what you
took in high school, it might be a better idea to hone your math background
first – 16 is very demanding mathematically. And if you’re planning on
taking other difficult classes, there’s no point in killing yourself with
work. On the other hand, Physics 16 is a trial-by-fire bonding experience for
those who take it. Many who take it call it one of the standout experiences of
their Harvard career.
Phys 19 covers a wider set of foundational topics in slightly less depth for
theoretical physics than 15a and 16, and is intended to give a broader preview
of later courses in the physics concentration. Phys 19 is a designed to
accommodate a wide range of backgrounds and interests: it assumes only a
familiarity with single-variable calculus, and teaches the necessary
mathematical background along the way. Since the course structure consists of
17problem sets and a final project, there are plenty of opportunities for those
that wish to engage deeply with the material to further enrich their
understanding; for those that are just interested in a taste of a bit of
everything, Phys 19 has a place for you too.
The main point of 15a and 16 is to learn mechanics and solve challenging
problems simply because physics is cool. The main point of Phys 19 is to
provide a comprehensive grounding and experience in the concepts and
mathematical tools of theoretical physics that show up in the rest of the
physics concentration. But also because physics is cool.
For 15a, concurrent enrollment in Math 1b is required (with 21a highly
recommended), while for 16 concurrent enrollment in Math 21a or an
equivalent is required: most students in 16 last year took one of Math
23/25/55. And by the way, we also recommend 15a for non-concentrators
who wish to take physics and come out with a fairly deep understanding of
mechanics (many chemistry and engineering concentrators choose this
option).
* Physics 15b: Introductory Electromagnetism (Fall and Spring)
Physics 15b covers electricity and magnetism at a level significantly beyond
AP, and follows 15a/16/19 in the introductory sequence. Non-concentrators
will often take the class, leading to a wide range in students’ experience.
However, the course is flexible and provides plenty of support or challenge no
matter what your physics background. Math 21a is a formal corequisite;
however, we recommend a multivariable background coming into the course.
A few students each year consider skipping 15b to take 153
(Electrodynamics). Consult with Prof. Georgi and think long and deeply before
deciding. Remember that the PSI lab for 15b is still required of all
concentrators.
Physics 15c: Wave Phenomena (Fall and Spring)
This is a course in waves and optics. It covers important material for future
courses, including the wave equation, Fourier analysis, and a formal
introduction to oscillations. Oscillations are the basis of quantum mechanics,
and 15c will provide powerful tools for future physics courses (even if balls on
springs and pendula seem boring to you now). Math 21b is a corequisite.
Most of those taking this course are physics (or astronomy) concentrators,
though some chemists interested in physical chemistry take it as well. There
are also still plenty of people there for interest’s sake, and we encourage non-
concentrators who have the time to get at least this far.
Note that this course, more so than 15a and 15b, can be a noticeably different
experience under different professors who may take different approaches or
cover different topics. Ask around and check the Q Guide for opinions. If you
18are considering taking Physics 175 or another course to fulfill the 15c
requirement, consult with Prof. Georgi and think carefully before making this
decision. Remember, the PSI lab for 15c is still required for all concentrators.
Physics 143a: Quantum Mechanics I (Fall and Spring)
Ah, quantum mechanics. As Prof. John Doyle puts it, “this class is what
separates physicists from everyone else.” This course is required of all
concentrators and is a prerequisite for most of the cool upper-level physics
courses. Physics 15c is a prerequisite (although every year a few students
with a strong background skip 15c). Math 21b is also a definite prerequisite;
we feel that the more linear algebra you know, the better you will understand
the material. (Math 23a, 25a, or 121 will make this course even more
worthwhile!) If, by the time you are ready to take 15c, you are already strong
in linear algebra, Fourier Analysis, and understand the wave equation, you
may consider taking 143a concurrently with 15c, but having previously taken
15c makes 143a much, much more comprehensible. Taking 151 (Mechanics)
before this class also helps, especially with Hamiltonians, although not many
concentrators go that route, and Hamiltonians aren’t difficult to pick up during
143a.
Concentrators in other sciences often take this course, especially chemists as
an alternative to the quantum course in the chemistry department. The course
will have a very different flavor from Chem 160, so consider this decision
carefully.
The above introductory physics courses are offered every semester (except
Physics 16 and 19, which are only offered in the fall), so if you think that you
don’t want to start right in (though we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t) but
later have a change of heart, you don’t need to spend a whole semester twiddling
your thumbs and waiting for the intro course you want to take. If you do take
your physics classes “out of phase,” they will be smaller and may have a different
set of professors. But once you finish 143a, you’ll be back in sync with the rest of
the concentrators.
Courses Beyond the Introductory Sequence
Physics 125: Widely Applied Physics (Spring)
This course uses physics to analyze important technologies and real world
systems; it emphasizes physical intuition and order-of-magnitude
calculations. It aims to develop a toolbox that all physicists should have at
their fingertips. The 15a/b/c series is a prerequisite, with 143a recommended
at least as a concurrent course. The material covered in this course varies
greatly depending on the instructor.
Physics 129: Energy Science (Spring)
Consult the department for more information.
19Physics 141: The Physics of Sensory Systems in Biology (Fall)
Consult the department for more information.
Physics 143b: Quantum Mechanics II (Fall)
This course takes what you learned in 143a and uses it to study all kinds of
physical systems. The exact details of what is covered vary from year to year,
but they generally involve atomic systems and approximations. You won’t
learn much more about fundamental quantum theory in 143b; the main
developments are different ways to approximate various situations to make
them amenable to solution by quantum mechanical means.
However, keep in mind that 143b covers some basic material physicists are
expected to know and that you might not get in any other class; atomic and
molecular physics are fundamental applications of quantum mechanics.
Physics 143b will not only firm up what you learned in 143a, but it also opens
the doors to many modern fields of research, like condensed matter physics,
quantum information, and AMO theory. It may be a little tedious for some, but
you’ll be a better physicist for it – and it’s critical for grad school. For all the
Chem/Phys students out there, keep in mind that this is the class in which
you’ll learn why elements, atoms, and molecules work the way they do. And
often the last week is an introduction to quantum computing. Interested?
Awesome!
Physics 145: Elementary Particle Physics (Fall)
Elementary particle physics is a large and difficult area that requires a great
deal of mathematical and physical preparation to understand fully. Most
students never see much of the theory until graduate school. This course
successfully remedies that situation by focusing on intuitive understanding of
the concepts involved rather than the calculational aspects.
This is usually a small class, with a greater opportunity for interaction with the
professor both in and out of the classroom. A fun and rewarding course that is
highly recommended!
Physics 151: Mechanics (Fall)
This course studies mechanics from a more advanced point of view than 15a
or 16, starting with the Lagrangian formulation. However, once you get past
Lagrange’s and Hamilton’s equations, there is a lot of time left over, and the
course seems to vary greatly with the idiosyncrasies of its instructors. Because
of this, we suggest that you do some research before taking this course, to find
out what the instructor plans to cover. Many concentrators choose to skip this
class because the math can get dense, but classical mechanics can be pretty
interesting. Taking this course concurrently with 15c is a great way to prepare
for 143a, which will involve lots and lots of Hamiltonians. Oftentimes, this
course covers topics like classical field theory and forays into the connection
20between classical and quantum mechanics via discussions of the Feynman
path integral. These topics are especially important for budding theorists!
Physics 153: Electrodynamics (Spring)
Physics 153 is an intermediate course in electrodynamics. It reconsiders the
non-electronics material of 15b with greater mathematical sophistication and
overall depth. Prior understanding of concepts from electricity and magnetism
are assumed, however, so we do not normally recommend skipping 15b to
take 153 (certain topics, such as circuits, are not covered in 153; hence the
asterisk on the asterisk). Some professors also spend part of the course
covering important mathematical techniques (e.g. Bessel functions). Some
students are particularly happy with David Griffiths' Introductory
Electrodynamics, which is typically the text for this course.
[Physics 160: Introduction to Quantum Information]
Physics 160 is a wonderful and wide-ranging introduction to the nascent but
booming field of quantum information, guided by one of its foremost
torchbearers, Prof. Misha Lukin. The course starts with a basic review of
quantum mechanics, the concept of two-level systems, and an introduction to
open-quantum systems and entanglement, and ends by describing the state of
the art in quantum algorithms and the research frontier in quantum
simulation (including many experiments in the Harvard-MIT region). All along,
the class strives to build up strong intuition in quantum information, and at
the end of the semester leaves students with enough background to genuinely
begin research in the field (this is not an exaggeration). If you’re interested in
quantum computation and quantum information, this is the class for you. Even
if you think that quantum computing is malarkey, take this class to get more in
depth practice with topics from quantum mechanics such as density matrices,
two level systems, entanglement, and dynamics. Such topics, usually covered
rapidly in 143a and 143b, are integral to many research areas (condensed
matter, atomic physics, and of course, quantum information), and developing
intuition for them is often essential.
Physics 175: Laser Physics and Modern Optical Physics (Spring)
Introduction to quantum electronics (laser physics) and modern optical
physics aimed at advanced undergraduates, with an emphasis on applications.
This course is often taught by Marcus Greiner who brings a superlative
experimental perspective (and sweet demos too) to the course.
Physics 181: Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics (Spring)
For perhaps the first time in physics, you’ll be looking at not one-body, not
two-body, but 1023-body systems! This course, or Engineering Sciences 181 or
Chemistry 161, is strongly recommended for concentrators at some point. You
really can’t get by as a physicist without knowing something about this stuff.
21The Physics Department course is more geared towards statistical mechanics,
while the ES course emphasizes thermodynamics. Chemistry 161 covers much
of the same material, but with a focus on applications to chemistry. Physics
143a is a prerequisite.
Physics 195: Introduction to Solid State Physics (Fall)
Get ready to apply your newly gained quantum and statistical mechanics skills
to a very important system: Solids! Starting with the classical Drude theory of
metals, the course aims to derive the electronic and thermal properties of
metals, insulators and semiconductors by applying quantum mechanics to
periodic systems. It is an essential course for research in condensed matter
physics! This course is typically jointly offered as Applied Physics 195.
Applied Physics 195: Introduction to Solid State Physics (Fall)
The same class as Physics 195, but jointly listed through SEAS.
Laboratory Courses
* Physics 123: Laboratory Electronics (Fall and Spring)
This course in laboratory electronics presents the skills needed to construct
scientific instruments, a valuable ability for those wanting to go into
experimental physics or just those wanting to leave Harvard actually being
able to do something useful. The broad introduction to analog and digital
electronics is also valuable for engineering concentrators and some Computer
Science concentrators; both undergrads and grad students take the class.
There are no formal prerequisites, but at least high school physics and some
familiarity with calculus is useful. Previous experience with basic electronics
or low-level programming can be immensely useful. Engineering Sciences
151, 154 and 156 cover similar topics, but the physics course is more focused
on “seat-of-the-pants” electronic design emphasizing broad understanding
over calculational proficiency. As might be expected, the class requires a
substantial time commitment, but you get out of it everything you put in.
Estimates of workload range from 1.5 to 2.5 normal classes.
[Physics 191: Advanced Laboratory]
In this laboratory course, required of all honors concentrators (and highly
recommended for all concentrators), students carry out three experiments
chosen from a list. These are not your basic high school measure-g-with-a-
pendulum-and-stopwatch experiments: topics include superfluid helium, the
lifetime of the m-meson, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Physics 15abc is
required, and 143a is highly recommended. The actual knowledge needed for
these courses is highly dependent on the experiments performed; some
experiments make more sense if you’ve also taken 181. If you are leaning
towards Astrophysics (and have taken enough courses in that department),
talk to the head tutors about the possibility of taking Astronomy 191 instead.
22The 90's: Research, Reading, and Ice Cream
Physics 90r/91r: Supervised Research/Reading (Fall and Spring)
These two courses allow students to pursue research or reading in areas of
physics not covered in the curriculum or in which more in-depth knowledge is
wanted. They are very valuable for those who think they may wish to pursue
physics after their undergraduate years. Since the subject matter can be
anything, so can the prerequisites. See the section on research for hints on
figuring out what to study. These courses sometimes culminate in a senior
thesis. Do not hesitate to reach out to professors to discuss the possibility of
pursuing supervised reading or research! Many students find this experience
incredibly helpful.
Physics 95: Topics in Current Research (Fall)
Physics 95 is first and foremost a course in science communication, with an
emphasis on upperclass-level physics. The centerpiece of the class is the three
20-minute oral presentations that each student is required to give throughout
the semester; individual attention is given by the professor in this seminar-
style course to every student's presenting skills, ensuring that you walk away
with a clear understanding of how to get in front of people and give an
engaging, comprehensible talk about any subject.
Directed toward juniors and seniors, this course offers a wider variety of
topics to titillate the imagination. The course is complemented by weekly
Wednesday evening lectures by different Harvard professors; each professor
discusses their ongoing research, and free post-lecture ice cream is served
every week. (These evening lectures are open to all physics students, not just
the enrollees in Phys 95!) This course is an excellent opportunity to
learn about the ongoing research interests of the faculty, to develop effective
communication skills as a scientist, and to follow up on one research topic
from lecture in the required term paper.
23Graduate Courses
Some undergraduates in the past, usually after completing the corresponding
100-level course, have ventured on into the realm of graduate courses. These
are often very different from undergraduate courses due to the differing needs
of their students, and typically they represent quite a significant workload.
That disclaimer aside, here are a few graduate courses highly advanced
undergraduates have taken with success.
Physics 210: General Theory of Relativity (Spring)
General relativity is the final course a student takes in classical theory. Curved
spacetime, black holes, an expanding universe, the whole nine yards. Physics
210 is not a prerequisite for many other courses aside from Physics 211r; it is
an end in itself. The mathematical tools required, such as familiarity with
tensors and differential geometry, are developed naturally as the course
progresses. However, it may take a while to get to the actual physics of the
class. Long, tedious calculations of quantities involving rank-4 tensors are a
staple of the coursework - so be prepared. All the effort is worth it in the end,
as the course provides a great introduction to general relativity.
[Physics 216: Mathematics of Modern Physics]
This course requires significant prior background in mathematical physics,
and it assumes knowledge of a lot of mathematics from real and functional
analysis to quantum field theory. As an advanced survey covering particular
topics in great depth, however, it is an excellent course.
Physics 232: Advanced Classical Electromagnetism (Spring)
This course definitely requires some sort of previous background in
electromagnetism, ideally at the advanced undergraduate level of Physics 153.
The syllabus begins with relativity and quantum mechanics and explains the
fundamental underpinnings of Maxwell’s Equations before going through a
more traditional EM curriculum, often from J.D. Jackson’s classic textbook, to
end up anywhere from magnetic monopoles to non-abelian gauge theories to
superconductivity. This is a great course for learning about electromagnetism
in depth. Be aware, though, that the material covered in the latter parts of the
course may vary greatly depending on the professor.
Physics 251a/b: Advanced Quantum Mechanics I/II (a Fall, b Spring)
As the introductory quantum sequence for graduate students, Physics 251a/b
offer an advanced, fresh beginning for quantum mechanics. Starting from
scratch, the class clarifies the mathematical and physical foundations of
quantum theory. Instructors vary in pace and material, but typically the class
moves quickly and the lectures are at a high level. Students who have
completed the 143a/b sequence and are interested in strengthening their
quantum mechanics foundations should keep these classes on their radar.
24Physics 253a: Quantum Field Theory I (Fall)
Physics 253a is the first course in the graduate quantum field theory sequence.
You will want to take a quantum field theory course at some point in your
career if you are interested in high-energy physics, nuclear physics, or
condensed matter physics, and it is nice to have some understanding of the
subject if you intend to continue your studies in physics at the graduate level.
While it is a very advanced course, you can probably handle it if you have
taken at least Physics 143a and 143b. Physics 151 might also be helpful to gain
a grounding in classical field theory, but it is not strictly necessary as the
course typically starts with a fast-paced introduction. The course is often
taught by Prof. Matthew Schwartz, whose celebrated textbook Quantum Field
Theory and the Standard Model provides a good introduction to the subject and
is usually the text of choice for the class. The problem sets will require a very
significant time commitment, however, and you should bear in mind that
Physics 253a is not a great addition to an already crowded schedule. Quantum
Field Theory is an incredibly vast subject, so while this course offers a very
solid introduction to the field (Chapters 1-19 of Prof. Schwartz’s textbook),
keep in mind that there is much more to come. Also note that while MIT has a
3-semester QFT series just like Harvard, Harvard’s version covers significantly
more material in a shorter amount of time.
Physics 253b: Quantum Field Theory II (Spring)
The second of Harvard’s 3-semester QFT series, this course starts where
Physics 253a leaves off and turns the difficulty up tenfold. It covers the
remaining chapters of Prof. Schwartz’s textbook as well as a large chunk of
Weinberg’s second volume. Taking this course on its own will have you
working harder than most of your peers, so only consider it if you are sure you
want to do high energy or condensed matter theory. You may also want to
consider Physics 254 when it’s offered as a good, less extreme alternative.
Physics 253c: Quantum Field Theory III (Fall)
The third of Harvard’s 3-semester QFT series, this is a topics course which
covers different material based on when it is being taught. This course is a
very exciting gem once you’ve taken Physics 253a, and may cover topics such
as supersymmetry or conformal field theory.
Physics 254: The Standard Model (Spring)
An amazing sequel to Physics 253a, this course puts the material you learned
in Physics 253a to good use by introducing the building blocks of the Standard
Model. If you ever wanted to go beyond the Quantum Electrodynamics from
Physics 253a, and learn about the weak and strong forces, as well as the Higgs
Mechanism, this is the course you’re looking for. While you can take it along
with Physics 253b, students usually take one or the other.
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